Michael kissed Angela’s cheek. “You’re a doll.”

Ang preened with a teasing grin “I certainly am. Now, get out of here before that gets cold.”

With a two-finger wave he left Demarco’s, black and white bag in hand. He left his bike parked and retraced his steps to Lizzie’s. Her reassurance about not being embarrassed by carrying his baby eased his mind, but something had caused her to withdraw. And he wanted to know what it was, dammit.

At her door now, he shook his head at the pine bough wreath. Real boughs. No fake ones for his Lizzie. No doubt she’d brought it with her when she moved.

Moved.

Not visiting.

The thought made his throat tighten. This wasn’t a three-day sex-a-thon like her last visit. No, this was permanent. And the stakes were high.

Pushing the thought away he rang the doorbell. It wasn’t late. Only nine o’clock. Lizzie should still be up. He hadn’t been gone that long.

When she didn’t answer right away, he took a step back to peer up at the windows. Colorful lights lined the small square, but no other lights shone from inside. Unwilling to give up, he tried the door handle to find it unlocked. He’d have to talk to her about that.

He took the steps up to the apartment and stepped into the kitchen. The scent of cinnamon and pine hit him full on, throwing him into the past when he used to spend Christmas with the Lawson’s. They’d known his mom didn’t do holidays. She didn’t even put up a tree. Needless to say the only home Santa visited him in was the Lawson’s. They refused to let him spend the holiday alone. He’d wake up to presents under the tree addressed to him from Santa. Those were some of his fondest memories of childhood. And Lizzie’s apartment brought it all back.

Striding through the tiny space into the living area he froze when he saw Lizzie curled up in a lounger, covered with a blanket sporting holly and ivy, staring at the real pine Christmas tree with tears rolling down her cheeks. Her phone sat on the arm of the chair and a thin white cord snaked under the blanket to her ears. No wonder she hadn’t heard him knock.

Pain knifed through his chest. This was the first time he’d ever seen his Lizzie cry. All those years getting into trouble with her, accepting the consequences and dealing with angry parents he’d never once seen her break down. He’d thought her indestructible. She looked so vulnerable he didn’t know what to do.

He set the bag down on a side table decorated with a Christmas village, warm light glowing from inside each little house and shop. But he didn’t pay much attention. His attention was on Lizzie. She still hadn’t noticed him so he walked over to her side, crouched down and lay a hand on her arm.

She jumped, letting out a startled scream as she tugged the earbuds out of her ears. Eyes wide, she quickly wiped her tears away and asked breathlessly, “Michael. What are you doing here?”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He reached up and rubbed a tear away with his thumb. “Why are you crying?”

She pulled away, causing him to drop his hand. “Why are you here? Didn’t you have a date?”

He frowned. A date? No woman had caught his interest in eight months. Not since Lizzie. She’d turned his life upside down that weekend and he still hadn’t recovered. “I brought you something.”

Wary, she watched him retrieve the bag from Demarco’s and set it on the coffee table. Carefully, he eased the lidded cup from the bag and handed it to her. “Here. Try this.”

Brows drawn, she sniffed and took it from his hand. “What is it?”

“Secret recipe tea from Mrs. Demarco. Old family recipe from Ireland. She said it’s good for the baby.”

Lizzie’s lower lip trembled. “This is what you had to do tonight?”

Puzzled, he said, “The tea takes a while to make. I would have given it to you at the restaurant if I could. Ang said she’d have it ready for me when I came back.”

Tears glistened on her lashes, confusing the hell out of him. “You don’t have to drink it—”

She cut him off by leaning forward and kissing him. A quick peck that she pulled away from way too soon.

“Thank you,” she said, taking a sip. Her eyes closed and she let out a delighted moan.

Mike suppressed a groan of his own. Good Lord, she was the most sensual creature he’d ever known. That kiss. That moan. It took all of his self-control not to pick her up and carry her into the bedroom.

“I’ve never tasted anything like this,” she said, curling into her chair, hands wrapped around the cup. “It’s delicious.”

Relieved she’d stopped crying, he dropped down on the sofa. “Mrs. Demarco said she’d have the tea on hand for you. Just give her a call and she’ll have some sent over.”

“That’s so sweet. I’ll call her tomorrow and thank her.”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, hands clasped. “We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

He quirked his brow at her round belly hidden beneath the blanket. She put a protective hand over the gentle slope and for the first time he felt like an outsider in her life. Damned if he didn’t like the feeling.

“We’ve said everything we need to,” she said.

“I haven’t.”

“You don’t have to. I already know where you stand, Michael. We’ve known each other since we were kids. Trust me, no one knows you better than me.”

Feeling cheated, he drew in a deep breath. “We’ve both grown up. Changed.”

She laughed without humor. “Are you telling me you aren’t a ladie’s man anymore? That you’re ready to settle down and become a husband and father? The two things you swore you’d never be.”

Stung by the truth of her words, Mike rose to his feet. “Maybe we should talk about this another time. Goodnight, Lizzie.”

She waved him off, goading his temper even more. She’d always been able to get under his skin, but, damn if tonight didn’t beat all. More annoyed than ever, he left her apartment. Not even the brisk walk to his bike cooled his temper. How could she act so blasé about their situation? They were having a child together. That bonded them for life, like it or not.

Whatever the hell that meant.

Lizzie let out a sigh and leaned her head against the chair. Why had she started a fight with Michael after he’d done something so nice for her? He hadn’t been in a rush to get to a date, he’d been thinking of her. And she’d wrote him off like they were strangers without ties.

What a mess. Michael had been so sweet. Wiping her tears away, going out of his way to bring her this delicious tea. Thinking of the baby’s well-being. And she’d treated him like she didn’t care. When all she’d wanted was to have him pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to work out. That, despite the fact she was spending Christmas alone and without her family and her due date just happened to be on Christmas Eve and she was terrified of childbirth it would be okay.

With a sigh she rubbed a hand over her belly, smiling when she felt a little flutter. “Sorry for all the stress,” she said softly. “Your mamma is making a mess of things lately. But, no worries. It’ll all work out. Grandma said so.”

Leaning her head back against the chair, she sipped her tea, letting the warm brew calm her. She talked to her mom every day and although she hadn’t shared her anxieties, her mom had picked up on them and reassured her everything would work out the way it was supposed to. Her mom was a very wise woman and if she said this would work out Lizzie had no choice but to believe her. Even if doubt lingered in the back of her mind. No one knew Michael like she did. And she’d offered up everything that terrified him. Hard to imagine a SEAL being afraid of anything. But, they were human and had fears and anxieties like anyone else. Especially when presented as a surprise like she had done.

Her attitude tonight hadn’t helped her case. Having Michael catch her crying over being alone for the holidays and missing her parents and home hadn’t set well. She didn’t like anyone to see her cry. It wasn’t pretty and made her feel vulnerable. A feeling she wasn’t comfortable with. Listening to her favorite Christmas songs hadn’t helped. It only made her more melancholy. And Michael had caught her during a weak moment.

Lizzie finished the tea and set the cup aside, eyelids heavy. Only a few hours before she had to get up and make the chocolates for the holiday rush. She yawned and settled deeper into her chair. After that, she’d call Michael and apologize for her behavior. And hope he forgave her.